Struggle for freedom in Punjab

During India’s freedom struggle, starting with the First War of
Independence, colonially called Indian Mutiny of 1857, Punjab’s
zealous contribution matched that of any other State of the country.

Kuka or Namdhari movement of Baba Ram Singh, a
dedicated follower of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh, defied the
unjust British Rule politically and sought to sweep the cant of
superstitions, inequality of women, casteism, animal slaughter for the
palate, drinking, injustice to the down-trodden, off the back of the
Punjabi Society. The movement for the first time, highlighted the need
for swadeshi as also for non-violence; it sacrificed 66 kukas, in 1872,
who were brutally blasted by canon, placing them literally at the
gun-mouth one by one.

In 1913, Lala Hardyal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Vaisakha
Singh and Jwala Singh formed the Ghaddar Party in USA,
with headquarters at San Francisco and branches in
Japan, China, Fiji and Malaya. Gurdit Singh it was who
sponsored the Japanese ship Kama Gata Maru which was
illegally disallowed to touch its destination, Canada,
provoking a rebellious procession which was fired upon,
killing 23 persons.

Underground activities were organised by towering
Punjabis like Ajit Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Madan Lal
Dhingra and Bhai Parmanand. Many revolutionaries wer
hunted out and imprisoned or shot dead, Eighty-two were
hanged, including the firebrand young hero, Kartar Singh
Sarabha who was hardly 20. But the patriotic sentiment
was kept brightly burning by several movements like the
Singh Sabha, Arya Samaj and Akali Movements and by
organisations like Bharat Mata Society, Naujawan Bharat
Sabha and Kirti Kisan Sabha, to name only the prominent
ones.

Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha against the black Rowlatt
Act found a popular support in Punjab. His arrest on 8
April, 1919, at Palwal, on way to Punjab, evoked
widespread demonstration to crush which O’Dwyer, the
Punjab Governor, let loose a reign of terror under the
army general, Dyer, Jallianwala Bagh massacre at
Amritsar on 13 April, 1919, the Baisakhi day, which
proved a turning point in the history of not only of
Punjab but also of India.

In 1928, huge Punjab crowds greeted the Simon Commission
with shouts of "Go Back" and waving of black
flags. Lala Lajpat Rai the lion of Punjab, fell to the
murderous police lathi charge, ordered by Saunders. The
dying leader prophesied that "each lathi blow on my
body would prove a nail driven into the coffin of the
British Empire in India".

Bhagat Singh, Punjab’s prince among Indian martyrs,
alongwith Sukhdev and Rajguru, expressed their anger at
Lala Lajpat Rai’s death by throwing bombs and leaflets
in the Indian Legislative Assembly on April 8, 1929.
That day India was also given the slogan "Inqilab
Zindabad". The Trio surrendered themselves,
exhibiting the noblest expression of heroism. On 23
March, 1930, these heroes were hanged under cover of
darkness on the banks of the Sutlej, near Ferozepur.

It was at Lahore that Jawaharlal Nehru declared at the
Congress Session in 1930 that the goal of India,
henceforth would be complete Independence. Remarkable
contribution was made by Punjab to the Quit India
Movement in 1942. During the Second world war, many
Punjabi soldiers joined the Indian National Army, INA,
started by Subhash Bose, General Mohan Singh, Captain
Dhillon are shining names in INA history.

When the rest of India was celebrating the dawn of
Independence, Punjab was burning in the furnace of
partition. But, with its courageous fortitude and
proverbial resilence, Punjab rose out of the ashes of
Partition, like the mystical Chinese bird Phoenix, young
and vigorous to take its well earned place of pride
among the Indian People.

The text and images in this section are from the
Archives of the Punjab Government.
Punjab Govt. , Plot No. 3, sector 38, Chandigarh.
Telephone Nos : 0091-172-694889, 0091-172-694997